Mom Etching on Glass

This Mom Etching on Glass design takes several steps to complete. It would make a terrific present for Mothers Day or for an expectant mother. When looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, this one just says motherhood.

When fusing glass inside a kiln any normal etching that might be attempted would be filled in and distorted by the heat of a kiln. By using clear dichroic glass to etch, with a darker background, the image will stay sharp and clear. This can also be accomplished by using black glass that has a dichroic coating.

First the glass needs to be cut and cleaned before the design can be etched into the glass. Once the design has been etched, be sure to clean the glass again to remove any unwanted debris.

Materials:

Design pattern

Base glass

Dichroic glass

Glass cleaner of choice

Chap Stick or Beeswax

Glass saw

Etching pattern

Drill with diamond bit

Fiber Paper

Kiln

Prepared kiln shelf

Protective glasses

Two part Epoxy

Pin Back

Directions:

1. Copy and cut the design.

2. Set the paper pattern on the right tint glass and sketch about the model with a permanent pen. Generously shelter the markings with beeswax or Chap Stick.

3. A glass saw is desirable to cut the outline. Cut near the shape to retain the form and all the tiny fine points.

4. Wash with soap and soak in plain water or use glass cleaner to strip off all pen marks and scum. Dry the pieces.

5. Trace etching pattern onto the dichroic glass.

6. Using a drill with a diamond bit, etch the design.

7. Clean the glass and dry with a lint-free towel.

8. Pose the pieces on a prepared kiln ledge and pose the shelf in the unit. At all times grasp the glass by the border to prevent fingerprints.

9. Shut the lid or access. Turn on the kiln.

10. Watch the job at around 1325 degrees Fahrenheit. When gazing at your pieces put on glasses with IR and UV shield.

11. Once the glass possesses your sought look, switch off and unplug the oven. If the unit is manufactured with heavy fire bricks, you can let it cool off by it’s self. If however it is built with ceramic fiber, the oven must remain on and supervised so that it doesn’t cool down any more than just about 300 degrees Fahrenheit an hour.

12. Once the pyrometer goes down beneath 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the oven can be opened.

13. As soon as the project has cooled to room temperature, add a pin back. Hold on the pin back with a two part epoxy.